Fuel, food shortages hit Taveuni as shipping services disrupted

Taveuni Island in Cakaudrove is running low on fuel and essential supplies. Farmers are unable to send produce to market.

The disruption is exposing growing pressure on Fiji’s maritime transport network.

Despite this, the Coalition Government yesterday assured the public that maritime services would continue despite Goundar Shipping Limited’s (GSL) threat to suspend operations.

The disruption comes as Fiji’s shipping industry faces wider pressure.

This masthead reported that GSL threatened to suspend services over unresolved issues with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF).

Another shipping operator, Interlink Shipping also warned it could halt operations, citing regulatory delays, crew shortages and broader industry challenges. GSL further threatened to suspend services completely from today.

However, Government said contingency plans were already in place to keep passengers and cargo moving.

Assistant Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Naisa Tuinaceva said Government started preparing alternative arrangements as soon as GSL announced its intention to suspend services.

He said the issue required dialogue between all stakeholders.

He confirmed that MSAF had put contingency plans in place in case the suspension proceeds.

Mr Tuinaceva said Government was monitoring the situation. He also said expressions of interest had been called from other shipping operators to maintain services if needed.

“We will ensure the movement of passengers and cargo is maintained,” he said.

He said Government vessels were available if required. However, he said public maritime transport remained the responsibility of operators under existing franchise arrangements, with subsidies available where necessary.

For island communities, shipping is not optional. It is essential. It carries fuel, food, medicine, building materials and passengers. Any disruption quickly affects daily life and the local economy.

In Taveuni, businesses say the impact is already severe. Taveuni kava and dalo dealer Sheenal Mansi Reddy said fuel stocks had run out. Supermarket shelves were becoming empty. Basic items such as rice and dhal were in short supply.

She said her business normally buys 10 to 20 tonnes of dalo each week from local farmers. That has stopped due to a lack of shipping to Suva.

“Fresh produce is spoiling and farmers are losing their only source of income,” she said.

Ms Reddy warned that bus services could also be affected if fuel supplies were not restored. She said this would disrupt travel to work, school and shops.

“The disruption threatens businesses, farmers and the island’s entire supply chain,” she said.

Regular passengers also warned of severe consequences if services were suspended.

Mereani Tagilala, 36, said GSL had become a lifeline for families travelling between islands and the mainland. She said it carried food, building materials and essential goods.

She said services had become more reliable since GSL introduced regular fortnightly sailings.

“The vessels are comfortable, clean and well managed. The crew take good care of passengers and cargo,” she said.

She urged authorities to ensure the service continued, saying outer island communities depended on it for their livelihoods.

Another passenger, Elenoa Takotavuki, 48, said she had used the service for more than three years to transport construction materials, food and family supplies.

“The vessels are clean and safe. The crew are helpful in handling cargo and assisting passengers,” she said.

She also urged Government to consider rising freight costs, saying higher fuel prices and the cost of living were placing extra pressure on island communities. She called for more affordable freight charges for essential goods and agricultural produce.

GSL announced last week that it would cancel services to Savusavu, Taveuni and Rabi from June 26. It said it had submitted all required documentation to MSAF, but the matter remained unresolved.

The company apologised for the disruption, called on Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to intervene and urged greater transparency from the maritime regulator.